101 



JUM 19 '96 13:26 MULTIPLE-USE COUNCIL 095 PQJ 



In r.he Southern Appalaohiane , the appeals process has been 

 grossly abusea and is having a negaM vp effect on needed 

 management practices to maintdlii ur improve our public lands for 

 multiple use purposes. Very few of the many project appeals in 

 our area have revealed any documentfad negative consequences on 

 the environment or any species requiring apecial attention. As a 

 matt(»r of fact, most of these project level appealo concentrate 

 un pr-ucess technicalities rather than negative environmental 

 impaoto. This strongly suggests to us that dppellanls realize 

 thfty have little or no valid environmental concerns relating to 

 projeuL implementation. 



We are glad to 9ee the Subcommittee taking a serious look at the 

 administrative appeals process and It's obvious flaws, wmip u<» 

 support public participation in decision making processes on 

 public lands, w<» ^re opposed to a flawed appeals process allowing 

 the system to bw abused. We strongly urge the Subcomoittee to 

 signifioantly restructure or eliminate the administrative appeals 

 process. 



If you have any queetiono or comments, please feel free to 

 contact me by phone an 7(iU-M5?-97l? or by mail at 154ii S. Main 

 St., Waynesville, NC, 2070G. 



Thanks for your time and consideration. 



